Apparatus for selectively accumulating noils, short fibers, or other material, from a plurality of stations



March 16, 1954 CLARK 2,672,369

APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY ACCUMULATING NOILS, SHORT FIBERS, OR OTHER MATERIAL, FROM A PLURALITY OF STATIONS Filed Nov. 23. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l 2,672,369 5, SHORT March 16, 1954 C A K APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY ACCUMULATING NOIL FIBERS, OR OTHER MATERIAL, FROM A PLURALITY OF STATIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 23. 1949 March 16, 1954 CLARK 2,672,369

E. APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY ACCUMULATING NOILS, SHORT FIBERS, OR OTHER MATERIAL, FROM A PLURALITY OF STATIONS Filed Nov. 23. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1820887302 vE'a'waesif Giaai, byl/iwwt S'MMQL- March 16, 1954 2,672,369

E. CLARK APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY ACCUMULATING NOILS, SHORT FIBERS, OR OTHER MATERIAL, FROM A PLURALITY OF STATIONS Filed Nov. 25. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 16, 1954 APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY ACCUMU- LATIN G NOILS, SHORT FIBERS, OR OTHER MATERIAL, FROM A PLURALITY OF STA- TION S Ernest Clark, Abington, Mass,

assignor to Abington Textile Machinery Works, Abington, Mass, a trust of Massachusetts Application November 23, 1949, Serial No. 129,144

Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus where material is transferred by suction from a given point or station to, and accumulated in, a receiver having air-exhausting means connected therewith.

The invention is more particularly concerned with the transfer of noils and short fibres from combing means to such a receiver, but in its broader aspect may be employed for the transfer of other materials.

The object of the invention is to enable the noils and short fibres, or other material, collected at a plurality of stations, such as at the discharge from a plurality of combing means, to be selectively transferred to a corresponding plurality of receivers in a predetermined sequence, so that the noils, short fibres, or other material, at each station will be accumulated in the corresponding receiver, and thus maintain segregated each type or character of noils, fibre, or other material in the respective receivers.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which a rotary valve mechanism is included in conduits leading from the respective receivers to the corresponding stations and in which the rotary valve of the said mechanism when rotated acts to establish communication in a predetermined sequence between the respective receivers and the corresponding stations.

A further object of the invention is to enable the noils and short fibres discharged from combing machines, such as either wool or cotton combers, to be selectively accumulated in a corresponding set of receivers, thus maintaining segregated the fibre from each one of a plurality of combing machines, or each group of a plurality of groups of combing machines.

The invention effects a great saving of time and labor where a number of combing machines are in operation not only in removing the material discharged from the combing machines, but in maintaining each type or character of such material segregated and readily available for later processing or for packaging. The invention enables the saving of time and labor to be effected in a highly efllcient and economical manner and by the use of a minimum amount of power.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings represent a preferred form of the invention as embodied in an apparatus for transferring to the receivers the noils and short fibres 2 discharged from a plurality of combing means, in this case a plurality of groups of combing machines such as the well-known Noble combers.

Figs. 1 and 2 are a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention, chiefly in diagrammatic form, and with the portion shown in Fig. 2 beinga continuation at the right of Fig. 1 but on a much smaller scale;

Fig. 3 is a view, chiefly in elevation, of the apparatus looking toward the right, viewing Fig. 1, principally to illustrate the valve mechanism and the conduits leading thereto and therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relation of the rotary valve ports to the ports of the valve plates when there are an odd number, such as the five illustrated, of textile combing means;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 when there is an even number, such as four, of the textile combing means;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for collecting the noils and short fibres from one of the combing means and a portion of the conduit leading therefrom;

Fig. 7 is a view, chiefly in vertical transverse section, of the rotary valve mechanism and connections;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of the invention.

The apparatus acts selectively to accumulate noils and other short fibres discharged from a plurality of textile combing means.

Such combing means may consist either of one or a plurality of combing machines such, for example, as Noble combs, where it is desired to collect and maintain separate the noils and short fibres discharged from such combing means. In the construction illustrated in the drawings ten combing machines are illustrated arranged in pairs, each pair operating upon a different stock. Since combing machines are well known and familiar it is only necessary to illustrate them diagrammatically. They are illustrated arranged in a straight row but obviously they may be positioned in any desired arrangement as required by the particular mill in which they are located.

The first combing mechanism is made up of a pair of combing machines I and 2, the second pair of the machines 3 and 4, the third pair of the machines 5 and 6, the fourth pair of the machines and 8, and the fifth pair of the machines 9 and I0. Each pair of combing machines illustrated discharges the noils and short fibres in the usual manner but instead of dropping on to the floor, or into a can, they are discharged into a funnel connected to a conduit. In the form illustrated each combing machine, as for example those shown at l and 2 discharges at the points H and I2, and the discharge at these points in each case is to a funnel such as shown at [3 in Fig. 6, connected to a'conduit It. This conduit conveniently runs along beneath the floor [5, as indicated in Fig. 3, and then rises to the rotary valve mechanism. In a similar way the pair of combing machines 3. and 4 discharge into funnels connected to the conduit 15,. also extending beneath the floor and then rising to the rotary valve mechanism. so also the pair of combing machines 5 and 6 discharge into funnels connected to the conduit H also extending beneath the door and then rising to the rotary valve mechanism. In a similar manner the pair of combing machines 5 and-8 discharge through a similar conduit 18, and the pair of combing machines 9 and I0 through the conduit 19.

The receivers for the noils and short fibres discharged from the respective combing means, in the case illustrated the respective pairs of combing machines, may be of any suitable type and need'no illustration in detail. Preferred forms of receivers for this purpose are well known and illustrated in my application Serial Number 92,682 filed May 11, 1%9, now Patent No. 2,606,344 issued August 12, 1952 and also in application Serial Number 5,554 filed'January 31, 1948' now Patent No. 2,505,873 issued May 2, 1950. These receivers are therefore simply illustrated diagrammatically. They correspond in number with the number of combing means working on the same stock and so in the case illustrated there are five receivers, one for each pair of combing machines. These receivers also may be positioned in any suitabl position as required by the particular factory in which they are located. The receiver 28 accumulates the discharge from the first pair of combing machines I- and 2, the receiver 2! accumulates the discharge from the second pair of combing machines 3 and 4, the receiver 22 accumulates the discharge from the third pair of combing machines E'and 6, the receiver 23' accumulates the discharge from the fourth pair of combing machines l and 8, the receiver 24 accumulates'the discharge from the fifth pair of combin machines 9-and ill. The conduits It, It, ll, l8, and 19, with the interposed rotary valve mechanism respectively connect the respective receivers to the corresponding noil and short fibre collecting means.

Suitable means are provided for exhausting the airfrom the receivers, or producing a vacuum therein,- so as to draw the noils and fibres discharged into the collecting means through the conduits into the receivers and as such air-exhausting means is well known and familiar and is-also disclosed in the applications before mentioned, it is only necessary here to illustrate it diagrammatically. At a suitable position there is mounted a vacuum pump 25 driven by an electric motor 26 and producing suction in the conduit 21 having interposed therein a suitable filter receiver 28. This conduit is connected either directly or by branches with each one of the several receivers so as to produce the desired vacuum therein and eifect the desired accumulation of the noils and short fibres therein.

The rotary valve mechanism which is located atthe point 29, see Fig. 1, in the conduits, is provided with ports which act upon rotation of the valve toestablish communication between the respective receivers and the corresponding collecting means in a predetermined sequence to cause the mile and fibres discharged from each textile combing means to be accumulated in the same receiver. A preferred construction of this rotary valve mechanism is shown chiefly in Figs. 3 and '7. This mechanism is preferablysupported upon a base 36 carried on columns 3] extending to the floor l5 and is shown as braced by tie rods 32 fromthe ceiling above. The mechanism comprisesa pair of-generally similar parallel plates 33 and 35' with a valvemember 35 mounted to rotate on a fixed axis between the plates, such as the shaft 36, mounted in the plates. This valve memher is provided with a transverse port 31 and pref erably, as afterward explained, with two such transverse ports spaced from the axis and opening in close contact with both plates. Each conduit is connected to each of the plates at alined ports extending transversely through the plates and spaced from the said axis equally with the valve ports and preferably the ports in the. valve plates and in the valve are of the same diameter with the ports in each plate spaced apart a distance corresponding to one port; In Fig. '7 the port 37 is shown alined with the conduit M so that in that position'suction is maintained from the funnelsor collecting means for the combing. machines 1 and 2' clear through to the receiver 20,- thus causing the noils and short fibres discharged from this pair of combing machines to pass into its corresponding receiver 20.

Suitable means are provided'for rotating the valve member to establish communication between the respective receivers. and the corresponding collecting means ina pred'eterminedsequence. As one means for that purpose the valve member 35 is provided with a gear 38' on its periphery which may be formed by gear teeth integral therewith and a pinion 39'located between the valve plates and journaled' by the shaft it" in the valve plates cooperates with this gear. The

pinion may be driven by any suitable means such.

as by a gear 41 on the shaft ll'c'ooperati'ng with. a gear 42 on the shaft of a suitable motor- 431.

It is desirable to maintain the air-exhausting pressure substantially constant during the operation of the apparatus and this result in the construction illustrated is obtainedby providing two.

ports in the valve member and by spacing the ports in each plate apart a distance corresponding to'one port and-making. the angular relation tion is illustrated in the diagrams of Figs. Land 5. In Fig; ithe circles50 represent an arrangement of the valve plate-ports when, as in the'apparatus illustrated, there'is an uneven number;

such as five; of the textile combing means. These ports-are allequallyspaced from the axis 5-1 and are spaced-apart adistance corresponding to" oneport. The valvememherhas two-ports- SZ-"and the angular relation of these is shown as or may be any other angular relation which willcause',

as illustrated; one of these valve ports 52 in alinement' with one pair of the valve plate portsto position the other valve port 5'2 covering the space between apairof-"valve plate-ports.-

If there is an even number, such as four, of the alined ports in the valve plates, the same rule applies. In Fig. 5 there is shown an even number, such as four, of the valve plate ports 50 with the space between corresponding to that of one port. Here again the angular relation, in this case 135, between the two ports 52 of the valve mem her, is such that when one of these ports is in alinement with valve plate ports the other is in the space between the valve plate ports, thus causing, as the valve rotates, one conduit gradually to close and another proportionately to open, and thus maintain substantially constant the air-exhausting pressure.

Not only is the air exhausted pressure thus maintained substantially constant during the operation of the apparatus, but this result is produced' by the employment of a minimum amount of power and this power is exerted in the most efiicient manner. The pump has only to maintain the vacuum substantially constant in the entire group of the receivers and from the pump through the rotary valve to but a single intake because as the valve rotates the equivalent of but one intake conduit or pipe is ever connected. Consequently the power required to produce this vacuum operating the entire group of receivers is not greater than that which would be required to produce an equal vacuum in a system extending from the pump through a single receiver to a single intake.

Further, the rotary valve, acting gradually to close and proportionately to open, successive ports, causes a quick and powerful suction to be exerted between the selected receiver and its intake acting quickly to suck the fibre into the receiver.

Inthe embodiment of the invention above described there is a receiver for each ofthe plurality of textile combing means. If the plurality of textile combing means are so operating that two of the textile combing means are operating on the same type of fibre stock, it would be within the invention to arrange to have the noils and other short fibres from both of such textile combing means that are operating on the same kind of stock delivered into the same receiver and yet maintain the uniform vacuum pull at the intake funnel of all of the textile combing means. One Way of accomplishing this is illustrated in Fig. 8, which is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, showing the valve mechanism with the pipes leading therefrom on the receiver side thereof. In this embodiment one at least of the conduits on the receiver side of the rotary valve is'connected by a pipe connection to an adjacent conduit, and valves are suitably installed so that each of the connected conduits can deliver separately into its receiver, or the noils and other short fibres in one of the two connected conduits can be diverted into the other conduit, so that the noils and other short fibres in both conduits will be delivered to the same receiver. For instance, in Fig. 8 the conduits 18a and Ila, which correspond to the conduits l8 and H in Fig. 3, are connected by a pipe connection 55 and in which is installed a valve 56. The conduit l8a has a valve 51 therein on the discharge side of the pipe connection 55, and the conduit Ila has a valve 58 therein, also on the dischargeside of the connecting pipe 55. With this arrangement if the Valve 56 is closed the two conduits Mia and Ila will each deliver to its respective receiver, but if the valve 56 is opened and the valve 51 6 closed the noils and other short fibres in the conduit 18a will be diverted into the conduit Ila, so that both conduits lta and Ila will eventually deliver to the same receiver.

Similarly, if the valve 51 is opened and the valve 58 closed, the valve 55 also being open, the noils and short fibres in the conduit Ila will be diverted into the conduit Mia and will thus be delivered into the corresponding receiver.

In said Fig. 8 the conduits lea and [6a are also shown as connected by a pipe connection 59 having a valve 60 therein and the conduit I 9a has a valve Bl therein on the discharge side of the pipe connection 59, the conduit l6a also having a similar valve 52 therein on the discharge side of said pipe connection.

By manipulating these valves as above described with reference to the valves 56, 51 and 58, the noils and other short fibres delivered to the conduit [Ba from the rotary valve may be diverted into the conduit Mia, and similarly the noils and short fibres delivered to the conduit l6a may be diverted into th conduit [9a, or by closing the valve (it and opening the valves GI, 62, each conduit I911 and Ilia will deliver to its own receiver.

There is also shown in Fig. 8 a pipe connection 63 between the conduits I5a and Ma, which concluits correspond to the conduits IB and [4 in Fig. 3, and the pipe connection 63 has a valve 6t therein, while the conduits Ita and Ma have valves 65 and tit therein respectively on the discharge side of the pipe connection 63. With the above arrangement the valves may be adjusted so that each conduit will deliver to its particular receiver, or the valves may be arranged so that the noils and short fibres in one conduit may be diverted into another conduit.

While the invention has thus been disclosed in connection with selective accumulation of noils and short fibres discharged from a plurality of textile combing machines, it will be understood that in its broader aspects the invention is equally applicable to any apparatus where material a a plurality of stations is transferred selectively therefrom by suction to a plurality of receivers having air-exhausting means connected thereto, thus causing the material at each station to be segregated and accumulated in the same receiver. Such stations are broadly represented or typified by the collecting means described herein.

The invention presents a simple and eiTectlve apparatus for the purposes set forth.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus for selectively transferring by suction material, such as noils and short fibres, from a plurality of stations, such as the points of discharge from textile combing means, to a corresponding plurality of receivers having air exhausting means connected therewith and conduits leading from the respective receivers to the corresponding stations, the provision of rotary valve mechanism in said conduits having ports acting upon rotation of the valve gradually to establish communication between one receiver and its corresponding station and proportionately gradually to close communication between another receiver and its corresponding station, thus to maintain substantially constant the air exhausting pressure.

2. In an apparatus having the construction and operation as defined in claim 1, in which the rotary valve mechanism comprises a pair of asrw see parallel plateasa valve member: mounted; to. m.- tate onia;fixed axisibetweensthe plates and pro.- vided' with: a: transversev port spaced. from: the axis and opening. in close contact with both plates; and. in which. each conduiti is:- connected to.- each of. said plates at alined ports: extending through theplatesand spaced from'the said axis equallyv with the valve. port.

3..In'- an; apparatus having, the construction and operationv as. defined in claim 1, in which therotary valve-1 mechanism comprises. a pair of parallel plates; a. valve member mounted to rotate ona. fixed axis'betweenthe plates and pro.- vided with a transverse port spaced from the axis and opening inclose contact with both plates, and in which each conduitis connected to each ofisaidplates at alined ports extending through theplates andspaced. from the said axisequally. withtheva-lve. port, and in whichamea-ns for rotating the. valve: are provided comprising 'agear onzthe valve periphery, a pinion between the valve plates journaled' in the plates cooperating; with-the. saidigear, andmeans for driving the pinion.

4.111 an apparatus having the construction and operation as defined in claim 1, in-which-the. rotary valve mechanism comprises a pair of parallelplates, avalve member mounted to rotateona fixed axis between the platesand provided with. apair of transverse ports equally spaced from the axis and opening in close contact with bothplates, and in which each conduit isconnected-toeach ofsaid plates at alined ports extending; transversely through the plates and spacedfrom: the said axis equally with thevalve ports andlin. which the ports in the valve plates andtinthevalve are. of the same diameter. with the ports in each plate spaced apart a distance corresponding'to one port, and. in which the angular relationoftthetvalve ports is such asto position: one valve? port in 1 alinement with: onerpair of: valve plate ports" when the. other. valve. port is in. alinement, with. the space. between another pair of valve plate ports, thus as the valve: rotates to cause one conduit gradually to open and another proportionately gradually to close and thus to maintain substantially constant the air-exhausting pressure.

5. In an apparatus having the construction and'operationeas defined in claiml, in which the rotary valvemechanism comprises a pair of parallel. plates; avalve member mounted to rotate on a fixed a-xis between the plates'and provided with transverse'portsequally spaced'from the axis and openingin close contact with both plates; in which each conduit is connected: to each of said plates at alined ports: extending; through the plates and spaced from the said axis equally with the valve ports, and in-which two of the conduits are connected at-a-point between the receiver andthe valve with shut-off valves insaid connectionand in each. of the. con nected conduits between the connection andthe receiver thus to enable. the. material, when either of said conduits isopened by-the. valve, to enter. the receiver connected to the. other conduit-byadjusting" said shut-oifvalves.

ERNEST CLARK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS Number Name Date- 631373 Luce "Aug; 22, 1899 2,177,301 Kyes Oct. 24, 1939 2341531 Dand Feb.- 15, 1944- 2,368,396 Allen Jan. 30,- 1-945:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 228,532 Germany Nov. 12;. I910" 

